Rack-inclosure.



s. HERMANN.

EAGK INOLOSURE.

APPLIOATION FILED 3111.25, 1909.

Patented Aug. 23, 1910.

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S HERMANN BACK INOLOSURB. APPLICATION) IIILBD J'A1L25, 1909.

Patented Aug. 23, 1910.

2 SEEETSBH'EET 2.

715i? eases:

@Zmmq W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL I-IERMANN, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO.

RACK-INCLOSURE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL HERMANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in th county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Back Inclosures, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to curtain holders, and its object is to provide an isolated rack with curtains in such a manner that the curtains may be readily withdrawn to expose the rack, or drawn around the rack to inclose it and protect articles supported on the rack against soiling or other damage.

My invention consists in the combination with a curtain, of a track, and lugs attached to the curtain, the track being so formed as to inclos parts of said lugs but to allow them to traverse it, whereby the curtain is movably supported.

My invention also consists in the parts and in the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure l is a detail perspective view of a rack provided with my improved curtain support and curtains, the curtains being represented as drawn around and inclosing the rack, and the parts of the rack and curtain support being represented by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a sectional perspective view of part of the curtain support and parts of the curtain supported thereby. Fig. 3 is a partial cross section on a line corresponding to the line ac00 of Fig. 2, looking to th left. Fig. 4 is a cross sectional View of the upper channel. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the lower channel. Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the lugs as I prefer to apply them to the curtain. Fig. 7 is a detail of one of the rollers with which'I prefer to provide the lugs of the kind illustrated in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of a rack with my improved curtain support and curtains applied thereto, the curtains being represented as drawn to one end of the support to expose the rack. Fig. 9 is a partial end elevation of the support, illustrating the slide for covering the end of the track. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of parts of the support and curtains, showing howthe curtains are fastened at the ends of the track. Fig. 11 is a sectional perspective Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 25, 1909.

Patented Aug. 23, 1910. Serial No. 474,057.

As illustrated, my improved device is designed for application to a rectangular rack 1, composed of vertical and laterally and longitudinally extending horizontal bars joined by suitable connections, as may be understood by referring to Figs. 1 and 8 of the drawings. Such'a rack is adapted especially for storing clothing, the articles being placed on suitable hangers which are hung on the upper horizontal bars of the rack, as is well known and need not be herein illustrated or further described. Such a rack is especially desirable for clothing, inasmuch as the clothing is stored in a condition best adapted to preserve it in its proper shape, and at the same time allowing the most convenient access to it as is required in stores where the clothing must be shown to be sold. However, it will be understood, that my improved device is equally well adapted for use in connection with racks for other purposes, in any of which cases it is desirable to cover the articles supported by the rack in order to protect them from soiling and injury, as may be caused by dust or unusual dampness. At the same time, due to the necessity of having convenient access to the articles, any covering provided must be such as may be conveniently withdrawn and replaced.

For the above purpose I provide two curtains 2 and 3 adapted to surround the rack, and to meet midway of the ends of the rack, and combine with these curtains, thus applied to the rack, a track 4, mounted on top of the rack and extending longitudinally of it along its middle and supported by. standards 5 rigidly secured to the track and at tached to the upper transverse bars 6 of the rack. Each of these standards 5 consists,

preferably, in a fiat strip having a return downwardly and inwardly toward each other, and the lower channel having its sides 9 extending upwardly and outwardly in position to come in alinement with the downwardly extending sides 8 of the upper chan nel. The lower channel has an upward extension 10 adapted to lie within the middle part of the downwardly presented concave surface of the upper channel, and it is by means of this upward extension of the lower channel that said lower channel is secured to the upper channel by means of screws 11 which take through both channels and into the standards 5 which support the track comprised by the channels on the rack. The screws 11 thus serve the purpose of rigidly securing the standards 5 to the track, the standards having horizontally extending parts which are adapted to lie against the lower surface of the lower channel near its sides 9. This horizontally extending part of the standard 5 is tapped to receive the screws 11.

The upward extension 10 of the lower channel is only ofsuch width as to afford the proper bearing surface against the lower side of the upper channel and is of such height that the lateral parts of the lower channel are maintained some distance away from the upper channel allowing an elongated opening 12 to be formed between the channels at each side, this opening extending throughout the length of the track 4 thus formed. The downwardly and inwardly extending sides 8 and the upwardly and outwardly extending sides 9 of the upper and lower channels, respectively, hereinbefore mentioned, are of such extent with respect to that of the upward extension 10, in the middle of the lower channel, that, when the channels are brought together, the sides 8 do not meet the sides 9, but are only brought into alinement with each other with respect to the direction of their extension. The opening thus left between the corre sponding sides, which do not meet, constitutes an elongated slot 13 corresponding to the elongated opening 12 and communicating therewith throughout its length. Thus, this elongated opening 12 is continuous throughout the length of the track, which is approximately equal to the length of the rack.

The curtains 2 and 3 are supported by the track 4, preferably, by means of lugs 14, attached, by means of rivets 14, to the curtains at intervals along their upper edges 15, these lugs extending through the slots 13 into the elongated openings 12, where they are provided with extensions of such size as not to pass through the slots 13. As illustrated, the extension on each of the lugs 14 consists in two small disks 16, one of which lies on each side of the lug 14 and turns on a pin 17, passing through the lug and disks. Thus, one of these disks will bear on the adjacent surface of the side 8 of the upper channel and the other will bear on the adjacent surface of the side 9 of the lower channel. The curtain, being flexible and thus mounted, may have one of its ends readily drawn along the track 4 toward its other end, thus uncovering the rack, as illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings. The lugs 14 and their disks are so proportioned and arranged that the upper edge 15 of the curtain will be held tightly against the straight outside of the track and form a practically dustproof joint therewith when the curtain is drawn around the rack.

The standards 5 are of such height that they support the track at a suitable distance above the sides of the rack, so that the curtain may slope away from the track down over the sides of the rack, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and will be of ample fullness to admit the articles placed 011 the rack.

The lugs of the curtains being all inserted into the elongated openings 12, plates 18 are placed over the ends of the track to cover the ends of the elongated openings and prevent the withdrawal of the lugs when the curtains are operated. In order that these plates 18 may be conveniently drawn over the ends of the track or withdrawn therefrom, they are slidably mounted on the standards 5 which are attached to the track with their outsides coincident with the ends of the track. This slidable mounting of the plate is effected by providing a vertical slot 19 in the plate and a suitable binding screw 20, on the standard, adapted to clamp the plate either in its lower withdrawn position or in its raised position, in which it covers the end of the track. Each of these plates 18 is provided with a hook 21 pressed outwardly therefrom and opening upwardly.

When the curtains 2 and 3 meet midway of the ends of the rack, as hereinbefore stated, they are adapted to be fastened together by means of suitable buttons, such as the buttons 22, adapted to enter the sockets 23, as shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings. One end of each curtain is provided with a loop 24 near its upper corner, said loops 24 being located at opposite ends of the track and each being adapted to take over the hook 21 on the plate 18 at its respective end of the track. Preferably, it is the end of the curtain which is provided with a loop that is provided with the buttons 22, while the opposite end, which is not provided with the loop, is provided with the sockets 23 to cooperate with the buttons on the corresponding end of the other curtain. By means of this arrangement, the application of the curtain to the rack is greatly facilitated, since the lugs of the curtain may be slid into the track and the end of the curtain having the loop drawn up close to the end of the track, passing its loop over the hook 21, after which the buttons 22 are presented outwardly for the ready application of the sockets 23 of the end of the other curtain. The ends of the curtain thus fastened together by means of suitable buttons will form a practically dust-proof joint down the end of the rack and the joint between the curtains and the track at each side thereof being also practically clustproof, as hereinbefore mentioned, it will be seen that the rack is entirely surrounded by a dust-proof inclosure amply eflicient to protect the articles stored on the rack from injury as hereinbefore stated, but adapted to be withdrawn to expose the articles with great facility.

A less expensive form of lugs for applying to the edges of the curtains for entering the elongated openings in the track is illustrated in Fig. 11 of the drawings, such a lug consisting simply in a smooth button 14 sewed to the edge of the curtain. However, it will be seen that the lugs 1 regidly attached to the flexible curtain near its edges with the disk 16, rotatably mounted on said lugs and adapted to roll on the adjacent surfaces of the sides 8 and 9 of the channels which compose the track, will allow the curtain to be operated with much less friction, and consequently with greatly reduced wear on the operating parts, avoiding twisting and tearing of the connections of the lugs with the curtain thus not only adding to the convenience of operation of the device but allowing it to last longer without repairs.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a rack inclosure, in combination with a curtain, a track mounted on the rack and forming a curtain support, and-lugs on the curtain, the track being adapted to admit the lugs and to allow them to slide therein, whereby the curtain is movably mounted, a hook at the end of the track, and a loop at the corresponding end of the curtain adapted to take over the hook, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. In a rack inclosure, the combination with a curtain having-lugs along its edge, of a track mounted on the rack provided with a longitudinal slot and with an elongated interior opening wider than the slot, the lugs on the curtain being adapted to occupy the elongated opening but not to 'pass through the slot, and being adapted to slide in the elongated opening, a plate at the end of the track adapted to cover the end of the elongated opening in the track, and a hook on the plate to which the corresponding end of the curtain is adapted to be attached, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

3. In a rack inclosure, a rack having transverse bars, and the combination with said rack and a curtain, of a track to which an edge of the curtain is slidably attached, and standards adapted to take around the transverse bars of the rack and be clamped thereto, said standards being rigidly secured to the lower side of the track, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

I. In a rack inclosure, in combination with a curtain and a track having a longitudinally extending opening, the curtain having lugs adapted to slide in said opening, standards at the ends of the track by means of which it is mounted on the rack, plates slidably mounted on the standards adapted to slide over the ends of the longitudinal opening in the track, and means for clamping the plates in position, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

5. In a rack inclosure, in combination with a curtain and a track having a longitudinally extending opening, the curtain having lugs adapted to slide in said opening, standards at the ends of the track by means of which it is mounted on the rack, plates slidably mounted on the standards adapted to slide over the ends of the longitudinal opening in the track, means for clamping the plates in position, and a hook on each' plate, to which the curtain may be attached, the curtain being provided with a loop by means of which it is attached to one of said hooks, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

6. In a rack inclosure,in combination with a curtain having lugs along one of its edges, a track comprised by an upper channel and a lower channel secured together and mounted on the rack, the upper channel presenting a concave surface downwardly and the lower channel presenting a concave surface upwardly, whereby an elongated opening is left between them, the edges of the channels being'separated whereby an elongated slot is left between them, and the lugs on the curtain being adapted to slide in the elongated opening but not to pass through the elongated slot, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

7. A rack inclosure comprising a rectangular frame, a track mounted centrally and longitudinally above and upon said frame and having projecting laterally at each side a downwardly inclined slotted track way, curtains adapted to cover and surround said frame work, lugs rigidly secured to the edge of said curtains, a roller on each lug, the lugs being adapted to extend through the slot in the slotted track way, and the rollers on the lugs being adapted to roll within the track way, whereby said rack inclosure may be completely covered at the top, ends and sides, substantially as set forth and for the purposes specified.

8. In a rack inclosure, in combination with curtains having lugs along their edges, a track comprised by an upper channel and a lower channel rigidly secured together and mounted on the rack, the upper channel having its sides extending downwardly and inwardly toward each other, and the lower channel having its sides extending upwardly and outwardly in position to come in alinement with the downwardly extending sides of the upper channel, but the lower channel having an upward extension, by means of which it is rigidly secured to the upper channel, adapted to maintain said channels in such relative position that an elongated slot is left between the adjacent edges of the channels at each side and a corresponding elongated opening is left between the channels interiorly of their sides, at each side thereof, said elongated openings being adapted to admit the lugs on the edges of the curtains and allow them to slide therein but the lugs being of such size as not to pass through the slots, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

9. In a rack inclosure, the combination with a curtain having lugs along its edge, or a track comprised by an upper channel and a lower channel rigidly secured together and attached to standards, the standards being attached to the rack, whereby the track is mounted on the rack, one channel having a side extending toward the side of the other, whereby an elongated opening is formed between the channels interiorly of their sides but the edges of the sides of the channels being maintained apart so as to form an elongated slot, the lugs on the edge of the curtain being adapted to slide in the elongated opening but not to pass through the slot, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

10. In a rack inclosure, a rectangular rack provided with transversely extending bars, in combination with a pair of curtains adapted to surround the rack and to meet midway of the ends of the rack, a track mounted on the top of the rack and extending longitudinally of it along its middle, standards by means of which said track is mounted on the rack and rigidly secured to the rack, the standards being adapted to take around said transverse bars and be clamped thereto, the track having longitudinally extending openings and longitudinally extending slots communicating with the openings, lugs along the upper edges of the curtains, attached thereto and lying within the elongated openings in the track, said lugs being adapted to slide within the elongated openings but not to pass through the elongated slots, plates slidably mounted on standards at the ends of the track adapted to cover the ends of the elongated openings in the track and to uncover them to admit the lugs of the curtains, means for clamping the plates in stationary position, hooks on said plates and loops on the curtains near their upper corners adapted to take over the hooks on the plates to secure the ends of the curtains, one of the curtains being provided with a loop at one end of the track, and the other of the curtains being provided with a loop at the other end of the track, the parts of the curtains, adjacent to their meeting edges at their ends having the loops, being provided with buttons, and the parts of the curtains, adjacent to the ends not provided with loops, being provided with sockets to admit the buttons, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

SAMUEL HERMANN.

Witnesses:

JAMES N. RAMSEY, CLARENCE PERDEW. 

